SOMERSET SELECT BOARD CHAIRMAN MCNAMARA MOVES FOR CEASE AND DESIST FOR BRAYTON POINT LLC. LAWLESS AND MONIZ FAIL TO SECOND
At yesterday’s Somerset Board Of Selectmen’s meeting, once again the topic of Brayton Point LLC raised animated discussion among Selectmen McNamara, Moniz, and Lawless.
After a lengthy explanation of her position, and fueled by yesterday’s revelation that the children of Brayton Point were suffering unexplained health complaints such as coughing up blood, McNamara stated, “I’ve come to this conclusion recently; maybe within the last two weeks. And now, we simply can’t wait any longer. I’m proposing that we learn from last summer.” She then made the following motion: “I make a motion to issue a Cease and Desist on Brayton Point LLC until the Zoning Board Of Appeals hearings are complete.” Rather than a second from her colleagues, the motion was met with silence until Moniz asked if the matter could be discussed.
The first to speak was Lawless, stating; “The reason we didn’t get one (a Cease and Desist) is because we didn’t have the results. You’ve got to have results because the Cease and Desist will not hold up. So until we receive the results from Sage, and until we get this noise thing taken care of, I’m not going to pull a Cease and Desist. And that’s what we’re going to talk about tomorrow night.” He went on to say, “We’re almost there. We’re getting there.” McNamara responded, “This is how I’ve felt this whole past year” and went on to raise the questions, “What could possibly change in the next twenty-four hours? What if the Sage results are inconclusive?”
Both Lawless and Moniz maintained their position to hold the motion until Thursday night’s Board Of Health meeting, alluding to the fact that there is more evidence to be brought forth, and citing the potential for a lawsuit.
After further discussion, McNamara stated, “I’m willing to take the risk. I’m not willing to wait any longer.”
At approximately one hour into the discussion, Town Administrator Richard Brown raised the point that a vote on such a motion is not on the agenda, and therefore should not be taken at that juncture.
The Somerset Board Of Health will meet tonight, Thursday, October 15th, at 6:00pm, at the Somerset Public Library. The following items are on that agenda: Concerns for students of Brayton Point, noise and dust complaints at Brayton Point, and a discussion of the Fuss & O’Neill letter regarding noise evaluation failure.
